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Your Gift Matters: Advancing Pediatric Cancer Research and Strengthening Family Support

ACCELERATING PRECISION MEDICINE:

Saving Lives Through Targeted Treatments

Your support continues to fuel CURE’s urgent mission to advance precision medicine in childhood cancer treatments. This year, we directed another $2 million to the Aflac Precision Medicine Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, pushing our total investment to $14 million since 2017.

Precision medicine uses genetic sequencing to tailor treatments to each child’s unique cancer profile, offering hope where standard therapies fall short. For children like Edward, whose neuroblastoma returned after grueling treatment, precision medicine provided a lifeline. Genetic analysis led to a targeted drug that has since brought him into remission.

EXPANDING OUR IMPACT: The Potential of Critical Research

Your support enabled CURE to fund a wide array of critical research initiatives. Selected through a rigorous, competitive peer review process, nearly $3.6 million was strategically directed toward 11 studies addressing crucial aspects of childhood cancer.

TARGETING THE TOUGHEST CHILDHOOD CANCERS

Your gifts fueled research focused on innovative treatments for aggressive childhood cancers like osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and diffuse midline gliomas. By targeting difficult-to-treat cancers, we’re tackling pediatric oncology’s toughest challenges and offering new hope to children facing tough diagnoses.

HARNESSING THE POWER OF IMMUNOTHERAPY

Many studies focus on enhancing the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. This promising approach could revolutionize treatment, potentially saving lives while minimizing damage to healthy cells and preserving children’s quality of life.

PREVENTING RECURRENCE

Your generosity is advancing critical research focused on understanding and targeting the mechanisms that trigger cancer relapse. This crucial work aims to ensure that when we say a child is “cured,” it truly means for life.

YOUR COMPASSION IN ACTION

Transforming Lives Beyond the Hospital Walls

Immediate Support for Newly Diagnosed

Directly connected with families near diagnosis, providing 357 tote bags with essential items to new families

Why it’s critical:

  • Families face immediate financial and emotional shock at diagnosis

Your Impact: Immediate comfort and practical support at an overwhelming time

Emergency Financial Assistance

Provided over $775,130 to nearly 500 families in crisis

Why it’s critical:

  • Nearly 20% of families face a 40% income reduction after diagnosis
  • Children in poverty have double the risk of cancer relapse

Your Impact: Prevented evictions, ensured access to treatment, and allowed parents to focus on their child’s care

Comprehensive Support Services

Provided 25,475 meals and 5,750 snack bags to families and stocked food pantries at our partner hospitals

Why it’s critical:

  • Families face increasing living costs – up 6.5%
  • Food costs alone have increased by over 19% in the past three years

Your Impact: Ensured families could maintain nutrition during treatment, reducing financial strain

Mental Health Support

Provided over 500 counseling sessions, both virtual and in person

Why it’s critical:

  • 50-75% of childhood cancer survivors experience depression, anxiety, or PTSD
  • Survivors have a 2-10 times higher suicide risk

Your Impact: 100% of families utilizing counseling services reported improved ability to cope with painful emotions

Bereavement Support

Assisted 24 families with funeral expenses, hosted 71 parents at bereavement retreats, and offered specialized support groups for bereaved parents

Why it’s critical:

  • Up to 80% of parents experience post-traumatic stress syndrome

Your Impact: Provided crucial support during the most devastating time for families

“CURE’s unwavering commitment to helping families like ours has been nothing short of lifesaving. From providing meals during treatment to covering prescription costs and offering various forms of assistance, your support has been a beacon of hope during our darkest days.”

– Shannon, patient mom

Help us fund even more research and support more families in 2024 – 2025.